Scent of Cherry Blossoms (Ongoing)

Chapter 15 - An Arrangement (part 2)

Tian Jin chuckled and slowly followed him into the manor.

"Ming'er, what are you hiding from me?" Tian Jin's voice echoed after Xiao Ming as the young man raced to their bed chamber. He quickly closed the door and wondered further into the room to hide the cylinder container. He looked around but couldn't find a good place. The sound of footsteps came closer and closer. The double doors opened. Xiao Ming quickly went into the room where the huge bed was. He wrapped it with a piece of long fabric and stuck it inside a tall vase, but it was sticking out like a sore thumb. Xiao Ming took it out and placed it inside the wardrobe. Thinking that Tian Jin might see it when he opened the wardrobe, Xiao Ming took it out. He wondered to the bed and covered it with the blanket. It looked too obvious! Xiao Ming hurriedly took it out again. Just then, he heard Tian Jin's voice behind him.

"Did you hear me? What are you doing?"

Startled, Xiao Ming dropped the thing and kicked it underneath the bed. He turned around to see Tian Jin just arriving behind him. Xiao Ming gave him a stiff smile. "Nothing."

Tian Jin eyed something under the bed. He looked at Xiao Ming and raised one brow. "It's nothing." Xiao Ming quickly walked pass him.

Since Xiao Ming did not want to say anything, Tian Jin decided not to pry into it. He turned around and followed Xiao Ming out of the bed chamber. Tian Jin grabbed Xiao Ming by the hand and pulled him back. Xiao Ming fell into Tian Jin's embrace.

Not far away in the distance was Liu Mei with her hands covering her face. She had just witness something unspeakable! Her fingers slightly cracked apart to take in the view. Her face was flushed. She felt embarrassed, but somehow, she could not take her eyes off them.

Tian Jin can see Liu Mei and other servants and maids nearby, but he didn't seem to care much. This was his manor. Should he have to care about what others think; not that he ever cared much in the first place. He has always done what he wanted with not much restraint. He held fast to the precious person in his arms. He smiled at Xiao Ming. This person was his. Nothing can take him away.

Xiao Ming was pressed up against Tian Jin's strong, firm chest. He can feel the other's heart beating powerfully beneath his hands. Xiao Ming stared at the handsome face looking down at him for a moment out of shock due to Tian Jin's swift action. When he caught himself again, he suddenly realized their positioning. Xiao Ming squirmed and glared at Tian Jin. "Didn't I tell you I hate it when others touch me. Let go!"

"And didn't I say I will fix that for you," said Tian Jin in a charming yet teasing voice.

Xiao Ming was very aware of the servants and maids around them. He tried again to push Tian Jin away to no avail. He said through gritted teeth, "Let go of me this instant!"

Seeing Tian Jin not even budging, he sighed exasperatedly with a hint of anger, "Won't you even leave me with some dignity in front of the servants? Although I am now your spouse, I am still a man who wants respect. Don't treat me this way." Xiao Ming aggrievedly bent his head down towards Tian Jin's chest.

Tian Jin's smile died down to an empty one. "Sorry Ming'er." He brushed the top of Xiao Ming's head affectionately. "I did not think that teasing you like this would embarrass you. It was not my intention to disrespect you in front of the servants. I only thought..." that I love you, and therefore, I want to openly show it. "I was too selfish. Sorry..." He loosened his hold around Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming immediately pushed him and took a step back. Tian Jin felt hurt, but he still tried to make peace between them. "It is already nearing evening. Go and have a rest. I will have the servants prepare dinner and call you when it is ready. In the meantime, I will go to my study to take care of a few things." After saying so, Tian Jin turned around and walked away.

Xiao Ming stared at Tian Jin's back for a moment and then turned away to walk in another direction. He felt aggrieved and suffocated. He has already complied to the imperial decree and married another man. Do they expect him to throw away his face and act like a newly married woman? Him giving face to the third prince in front of the Emperor, the Noble Consort, and palace people on the way back to the manor was already good enough. Don't expect him to act all affectionate like he wanted the marriage. At least, inside the third prince's manor, he wanted to be able to breathe and not have to pretend to be on good terms with the third prince.

As Xiao Ming walked down the hallway, Liu Mei quickly ran after him. She could see that her master was not in a good mood.